Parmenides’Argument
for the Second Premise
1. Nothing can be said of nothing.
2. If (1), then it cannot be said that something
comes from nothing.
3. If it cannot be said that something comes from
nothing, then it is impossible that (a).
4. It is impossible that (a).
Nothing is better than eternal life.
It’s not the case that there is something, x, such
that x is better than eternal life.
Something came from nothing.
There is something, x, such that x came into
existence, but where there is no y, such that x came
from y.
Parmenides’Argument
for the Second Premise
1. Nothing can be said of nothing.
2. If (1), then it cannot be said that something
comes from nothing.
3. If it cannot be said that something comes from
nothing, then it is impossible that (a).
4. It is impossible that (a).
Melissus
The Eleatic Thesis: Only one thing exists and it is
(i) ungenerated,
(ii) indestructible,
(iii) whole,
(iv) of one kind,
(v) unwavering, and
(vi) complete.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor grow nor
change its arrangement nor suffer pain nor suffer
anguish… For anything that undergoes any change
of whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different from what
exists. Therefore it will not change.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor grow nor
change its arrangement nor suffer pain nor suffer
anguish… For anything that undergoes any change
of whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different from what
exists. Therefore it will not change.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor grow nor
change its arrangement nor suffer pain nor suffer
anguish… For anything that undergoes any
change of whatever sort moves from one state
into a different one. But nothing is different
from what exists. Therefore it will not change.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor grow nor
change its arrangement nor suffer pain nor suffer
anguish… For anything that undergoes any change
of whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different from
what exists. Therefore it will not change.
Melissus’Argument
against Qualitative Change
1. If something were to undergo qualitative
change, it would move from one state into a
different one.
2. If something were to move from one state into
a different one, then it would differ from itself.
3. Nothing differs from itself.
4. Nothing undergoes qualitative change.
Melissus’Argument
against Qualitative Change
1. If something were to undergo qualitative
change, it would move from one state into a
different one.
2. If something were to move from one state into
a different one, then it would differ from itself.
3. Nothing differs from itself.
4. Nothing undergoes qualitative change.